Wrench



(No Modl.) r i I' I O. SCHOLZ'.

Wrench. No. 242,160. Patented May 3|, 188i.

Fig.1. 2 Fig.2.

VINVENTOR ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES CHARLES soHoLz,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF DAYTON, OHIO.

WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,160, dated May 31, 1881. Application filed April 7, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES ScHoLz, of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Wrenches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of wrenches in which the adjustingnut may be disengaged from the rack-bar at pleasure, to slide the lower jaw to or from the upper jaw, and be then re-engaged to lock the parts and complete the adjustment of the implement.

The novelty consists in the construction and combination of the parts composing my im-- proved wrench, as will be herewith set forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved wrench. Fig. 2 is a corresponding view in central section. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing a modification of the construction.

The same letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The rack-bar A is of the usual or any suitable construction, carrying at its upper end the stationary jaw B, and having its lower end formed into a shank, 0, upon which the handle D is fitted and held by the cap-screw E, as seen in Fig. 2. I

The lower jaw, F, which has an aperture through it to enable it to be slipped over and slide upon the rack-bar A, carries upon its under side a skeleton-frame composed of the connected integral portions or, 12,0, and d, embracing the bar A, and serving to give additional support and bearing to the jaw F, as well as to afford bearing-connections for the adjusting and locking mechanism.

In the bracket-extension a of the skeletonframe is a central vertical slot, 6, in line with the rack-bar, and in the upper end of this slot is pivoted, at f, the upper end of the nut-bearing arm or rod G. Upon this rod is slipped the adjusting and locking nut H, whose upper end bears against a swell, g, upon the rod, as shown, and its lower end is sustained by a slotted link, I, which, encompassing the rackbar, has the lower end of the rod G screwed or riveted in it, so as to form a rigid connec tion. In the present instance the screw of the nut is constructed with but half a thread, with the flat bearing underneath, and this engages with the correspondingly-cut rack, as shown.

To hold the screw in engagement with the rack, I form a vertical slot or recess, '5, in the lower portion of the skeleton-arm d, and in this recess is confined a spring-projected bolt, j, actuated by a spiral or other spring, k, within the recess, and having a stud or knob, 1, projecting through a slot, m, in the portion cl, as represented. When the nut His pressed into engagement with the rack-bar, the link I is forced back and raises the bolt until the latter comes inv line with the slot or aperture in the link, into which it is projected by the spring, and forms a lock to hold the nut in positive ongagement with the rack. A pendent lip or shoulder, a, integral with the portion d, is interposed between the projected end of the bolt and the rack-bar, as represented, and serves to prevent any binding of the frame upon the rack-bar, as will be readily understood. The arrangement and length of the parts is such that when the nut is in engagement and is locked the link I is at right angles with the rack-bar and parallel with the portion 0 of the skeleton-frame. When the link is locked the wrench may be adjusted as an ordinary wrench by simply turning the nut. By pressing up the knob of the bolt with the thumb the link is released, and the nut can be disengaged from the rack and the jaws be adjusted by sliding the lower one upon the rack-bar and then re looking it at the point desired.

A modification of this construction is rep resented in Fig. 3, where the link I does not slide up and down with the lower jaw, but is held just above the ferrule of the handle by shoulders p upon the rack-bar. In this instance the bolt mechanism is attached at r to the forrule or handle of the wrench, and the nut-carrying rod G, instead of being riveted or rigidly fastened to the link, simply has its lower end extended so as to pass through an eye or aperture in the link, as shown The link, when released, can be pressed forward to throw the nut outof engagement, and in sliding the lower jaw the rod G slips up or down in the eye of 100 the link.

-By the above construction it will be seen that the nut is not held in engagement with the rack by spring aetion alone, but by a positive lock, thus rendering the wreneh more reliable and durable than if' a spring only were relied on to hold the nut in engagement.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim 1. In a wrench, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a raehbar with a stationary jaw, a sliding jaw carrying a hinged nut-bearing arm or rod, an adjustingnut, a skeleton-frame encompassing said rackbar and forming part of said sliding jaw, a locking-link attached to and moving with said l hinged arm and encompassing the rack-bar,

and alocking-holt adapted to loel; said link and hinged arm when the engagement of the nut with the rack-bar is effected, substantially as deseribed.

L. In a wrench having a sliding jaw carrying a hinged or pivoted locking-nut, the combination, with the nut-carrying rod and a. locking-link, of a spring-actuated bolt for holding said locking link and nut in positive engage ment, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES SCIIOLZ. I

Witnesses:

(IIIAS. )I. lnoK, M. (aims NoLAN. 

